The Chernobyl reactor accident and its consequences for the Federal Republic of Germany

About one year after the Chernobyl reactor accident, the SSK summary report presents essential data on the environmental contamination in the F.R.G., and an evaluation with regard to the radiation exposure of the population. The report explains the following: The accident scenario and the activity released; atmospheric dispersion of radioactivity and measuring programmes; activity concentration in environmental materials and in food, ambient dose rates; SSK recommendations for limiting the radiation exposure of the population; the dose to the population; evaluation of doses. The report is completed by a number of annexes, for example on 'Ambient dose rates and measures taken in other European countries; or 'List of reports published by international organizations on the Chernobyl reactor accident'. Annex 1 is entitled 'Comments on the criticism of the SSK' in which the SSK explains its position vis-a-vis the reproaches put forward in the public about the information given by the SSK after the accident. The SSK has verified its information by now available measured results and shows that the dose assessments published at the time were higher than the real values. The calculation models are shown to have proven right, and there was no underassessment of the hazards involved. With 61 figs., 40 tabs